Are right-wing bloggers abandoning Gingrich over Scozzafava endorsement?

Written by Julie Millican & Dianna Parker

Published

Right-wing bloggers have recently attacked Newt Gingrich for endorsing Republican Dede Scozzafava over Conservative Party candidate Doug Hoffman in the special election to fill Army Secretary John McHugh's (R-NY) vacated congressional seat. On her blog, Michelle Malkin said “no thanks” to the possibility of a Gingrich 2012 presidential run, noting that he is the “most prominent GOP endorser of [the] radical leftist NY-23 congressional candidate,” while at RedState.com, Erick Erickson reportedly wrote -- before removing the post -- that Gingrich “stands athwart history and pees on the legacy of 1994.”

Right-wing bloggers question Gingrich's credibility as a conservative after endorsement

Malkin: Newt in 2012? “Noooooo, thanks.” Following Gingrich's endorsement of Scozzafava and “musing” about a possible 2012 presidential run, Malkin blogged that Gingrich “shouldn't bother” considering a bid for the presidency. Malkin wrote: “The conservative base is wising up and pushing back. And constantly invoking Reagan isn't going to erase the damage Gingrich has done to his brand over the years by wavering on core issues and teaming up with some of the Left's biggest clowns."

RedState's Erickson: In endorsement, Gingrich “pees on the legacy of 1994.” According to a post on Townhall.com, Erickson's initial reaction to “Newt endorsing Scozzafava” was that it “aligns him with Markos Moulitsas who declared Dede the most liberal candidate in the race.” Erickson also complained that Gingrich's endorsement “aligns Newt” with Planned Parenthood, ACORN, NARAL, SEIU, the AFL-CIO, and “the gay marriage lobby.” Erickson reportedly added: “Today Newt Gingrich stands athwart history and pees on the legacy of 1994, where it is no longer about principles, ideas, ideals, and integrity, but the raw acquisition of power for the sake of power. He aligns with a candidate to the left of the Democrat.” Following complaints that his “original post ... was too rough on former Speaker Gingrich,” Erickson modified his statements to say: “It is unhelpful when people like Newt Gingrich break away from the movement to endorse candidates who are also supported by Planned Parenthood, NARAL, ACORN, unions,, etc. and a woman who has several hundred thousands of dollars of tax liens and business failures galore to go with them. Perhaps I said more than I should have in my earlier post as I was rather angry about this turn of events when I wrote it. So let me now say that, at least, along with a great deal of the movement that has felt Newt to be one of us, I am disappointed.”

Hot Air: Gingrich spent the “last of his credibility endorsing Scozzafava.” An October 25 Hot Air post argued that the “rising star of Sarah Palin passes over the melancholy ruins of Newt Gingrich, who spent the last of his credibility endorsing Scozzafava. The Republican Party of Gingrich dies, unloved and irrelevant.” The post added: “For the Republicans, it will never be 1996 or 2006 again. There's no more room for school-lunch debacles, government shutdown miscalculations, Trent Lott, George Allen, Mark Foley... or Newt Gingrich.” Palin has announced her support for Hoffman.

RedState: “Gingrich crossed the Rubicon.” In an October 25 post, RedState blogger “newsentinel” wrote: “I don't know how the majority of conservatives come down on Gingrich's position on Dede, on Hoffman, and on Palin. But I do know this. I don't know take kindly to being lectured to by a man who has just endorsed a flaming-liberal candidate, precisely the kind of Republican I don't give a damn for and would not give a dime to support. I don't know if Gingrich crossed the Rubicon as far as most conservatives are concerned. But he crossed the Rubicon, cast the die, as far as this Reagan-Conservative Republican is concerned.”